CHILDREN OF MEN (2006) | FIRST TIME WATCHING | Reaction & Commentary | SUBERB!!!

[@DarthMohammedRules]

That scene where they leave the building with the baby, and all the fighting stops, and everyone's just frozen in awe and wonder... and then they're gone and all the fighting continues... is one of the greatest, most amazing scenes in cinematic history.

[@Renegade2786]

Kind of remind me of that funny scene from the Only Fool and Horse Christmas special *Fatal Extraction* when the fight between the rioters and cop stop when Del drive through the crowd in his pratmobile and they continued fighting after he pass them.

[@SathReacts]

If only such appreciation for life were common today

[@shawnburns5680]

This, I was hoping she would have kept that scene. As soon as they get far enough away the tank fires again.

[@jeanbastien9424]

Makes me cry every time.

[@victorestevez6888]

It reminds me of a Nativity scene, a father, a mother & a baby and all the people worshiping him as a piece of hope, salvation. Amazing scene!

[@caseymoe816]

The long-cut scene in the car is so iconic from this movie, but the movie is done so well the casual viewer doesn’t even realize the amount of effort and technical wizardry that went into creating the whole sequence. And isn’t that what makes movies so magical?

[@3DJapan]

I went to the Digital Animation and Visual Effects School (DAVE School). They explained on the first day that digital animation is where you know it's CG and visual effects are the stuff you don't even know is there.

[@lokithecat7225]

Doing something that is Technically Difficult, to "Show Off" to the Minority of people that recognize the difficulty of it, that the "Audience" in General doesn't notice, doesn't make Movies Magical... It is a Good example of Hollywood Obnoxiousness, caring more about Hollywood than the Audience, considering the Expense and Time required.

[@Xemptuous]

Artistic things are usually meant for other artists to pick up on. E.g., is the Wilhelm scream really meant for the average viewer?

[@LordVolkov]

In theaters, it was so natural and so tense that I didn't even notice the long takes and lingering shots until the scene with the baby crying. It's a really powerful movie and crafted with excellence.

[@buttercup4421]

On the first viewing most casual audience members are too caught up in what's happening to even notice. I love rewatching this movie.

[@internetenjoyer1044]

must have been crazy to feel the emotions of the crowd seeing this in cinema

[@montist1]

One of the most underrated and least well known masterpieces in cinema history. Thanks so much for this reaction. By far a top ten film for me

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

It really is an incredible film.

[@t0dd000]

Er. Well known. Much heralded. Not underrated at all.

[@mysticsaxophone4181]

I mean it wasn't a smash hit but it certainly is well known. The last 10 years have massively spiked its fame and status.

[@glenmcdonald375]

Yes. This movie underperformed at the box office. Its a masterpiece that has since been recognized... its up there, but not quite as good as another failed box office masterpiece which was the Shawshank Redemption

[@glenmcdonald375]

@@t0dd000 not under-rated any more, but it wasconsidered a box office failure when it was released in cinemas

[@One_Odd_Ood]

Everyone always talks about the one-shot car sequence but I feel the one-shot night to dawn escape sequence is also impressive. You can only attempt that once a day.

[@lukess.s]

The one-shot during the shootout towards the end is objectively the most impressive

[@TheTomt50]

"And this pig blimp, what is that?" God I feel old! It's a reference to Pink Floyd. They did a whole album called "Animals" loosely based on George Orwell's political fable Animal Farm. By the way, love all your reactions Shanelle! Oh, and yes one of my favorite movies....ever.

[@foljs5858]

"It's a reference to Pink Floyd. They did a whole album called "Animals" loosely based on George Orwell's political fable Animal Farm" ... AND they had this pig blimp as a prop in their concerts for the album and promotional material.

[@saturnine000]

And Peter Frampton bought it at Pink Floyd’s garage sale for the Hullabalooza tour.

[@TheTomt50]

@@saturnine000 Okay, that I didn't know! Awesome!

[@glenmcdonald375]

I made a comment related to this 17 hours later...

[@Th3Gam3925]

I wish people wouldn't spam "iconic" so fuckin much. I hate that word now. It's "iconic " how many fuckin sheep use that word so often smh.

[@CrimsonViper38]

What gets me about this movie is that the premise means that every person on screen truly believes they are the last people. Every death is one step closer to the end, with no one around to eulogize us or remember any of our accomplishments, our stories, our history, that we ever existed at all. Yet in our decent into nothingness, we still do all these horrible things to each-other. Faced with the end, we as a species turned nihilistic, animalistic, and turned on eachother. Then you realize that it's not far from where we are today, and where we are going. That's so painfully sad. Emmanuel "Chivo" Lubezki was cinematographer. His work is pretty special. The Revenant, Tree of Life, Gravity, Birdman, Burn after Reading. He often works with Alfonso Cuaron and Terrance Malick. His work is an automatic watch for me. He's cinematographer for an upcoming film "Amsterdam", which has a lot of star power in in.

[@frightenedsoul]

That list of his movies has convinced me that I should watch Burn After Reading after all. Never did watch that one I heard it wasn’t very good.

[@chrisjfox8715]

Great observation.

[@rockof.1793]

It's basically a dead world, and people come alive when they learn of the baby.

[@rrmenton8016]

@Bub Fluff Burn after Reading is a great film. Just go into it knowing this; sometimes, you don't know a story or the why's and wherefore's. Post 911, its a story about the limits of intelligence, and Signals. I mean, you can look at intelligence all day, and yet somehow never know what any of it means. But super unfulfilling if you want a movie to fill in all the blanks for you, but if you want a story with equal parts absurdity and reality, its a masterpiece.

[@starwarssuck]

Well said.

[@SkyForgeVideos]

This movie is a masterpiece that reveals even more of it's genius with every viewing.

[@Progger11]

Its* But yes, you are correct.

[@reservoirdude92]

Alfonso Cuaron is one of the greatest filmmakers of the 21st century, without question. An artist through and through.

[@TheLisa-Al-Gaib]

I was lucky in that I saw this in the theater. I didn’t realize how much I was physically ducking and flinching because it felt so real. By the end of the movie I felt exhausted and a bit beaten up ...and then things got really weird. I was in a nice theater at an odd time that doesn’t get a lot of traffic. But when the movie was over I realized that I was completely alone in the theater, and I was already shook from the movie experience so I wanted to get around people and re-orient myself. I went out into the lobby and that was also empty. No patrons, no workers, nobody. I knew this had to be a coincidence but it was starting to freak me out. Instead of standing in the middle of the lobby yelling “is anybody here?” like a crazy person I decided to go outside...and there were still NO moving cars or people! About 30 seconds later I FINALLY saw moving traffic. I never did bother to find out why the theater was so empty. I just left after that. It was such a bizarre experience but it makes this movie even more special for me.

[@starwarssuck]

'Devils Advocate' and '28 days Later' recreate your experience, even when I knew wasn't real, the feeling of loneliness was overwhelming, perhaps because the scenes were filmed on London and NY were there is always a hectic activity...

[@stvbrsn]

I would have shit myself.

[@swish007]

it's rare that a movie has an A+ in so many categories: acting, cinematography, pacing.. but SUCH a powerful story! the desperate fight for life in the midst of death and chaos. This movie and no country for old men are my 2 fav movies of all time, but this one wins out because of the powerful message of hope at the root of it all. both movies are bleak as hell, and I love the "coldness" of No Country.. but Children of men hits you so hard in the heart. it really IS a super special movie

[@KD9YCE]

When I first saw this movie in theaters the raw intensity and long takes blew my mind. I couldn't stop thinking about this movie for days.

[@gabagool_and_psychiatry4856]

couldnt stop raving about it at school back in the day. must watch.

[@chrisjfox8715]

I was just thinking about this movie this morning! People I knew at the time complained that "they never explained why", completely ignoring the fact that not knowing is precisely what makes the situation scarier. Not knowing adds to the hopelessness of a solution. In real life, not everything has a known explanation; people too often expect movies to spoonfeed them with answers.

[@AceCorban]

I remember seeing this in theaters and being blown away by the long takes. 1917 pulled out all the tricks to pull off it's illusion. It really does put you in the moment, and seeing the war pause in this movie to just stand in awe of the first baby in 18 years, only to start right back up after they are clear is impactful.

[@Norp-i7m]

Storks used to be a well-known "explanation" for where babies came from. "The stork brought it."

[@LobbyLoiterer]

This movie has the single most brilliant opening line in any movie I've ever seen. I love seeing people's reactions to it.

[@snidefultodd]

I love when Shanelle watches the best movies! I can't wait to hear your recap.

[@lethaldose2000]

Chldren of Men is truly an amazing movie and post-apocalyptic narrative. I must say, when Key and the baby (Dillion) walk though the hallways and everyone stops in shock. It gives me goose bumps everytime and brings me to tears. I am reminded of the WW1 battle front between GErman and FRance where both side stopped fighting to celebrate Christmaas. Sometimes war has to take a back sea to our joined humanity.

[@hahajaxsontv]

Just so you know. Everyone weeps like that. Everyone. Children of men shows you the absolute worst in humanity. Then shows you why we are worth saving.

[@hahajaxsontv]

I literally cried watching your reaction. Goddamn that movie

[@brycephiilips2716]

I marvel at what a concept for a story this is. Lots of stories feature a threat of extinction, but there is a huge difference between the emotion of humanity going out in a blink, such as an impending asteroid impact, and what we have here. This is not just an extinction event, it's our human battle of coming to grips with mortality, our own inevitable end, on the grandest scale imaginable. Picture the entire human race growing older, facing the end, with no future generations to soften that understanding we all have to eventually accept. It's bound to create an environment filled with insanity, hostility, and desperation. An amazing, jarring, and emotional concept that not only was done justice by a filmmaker, but put into a masterpiece of cinema.

[@geneticjen9312]

The lighting in the birth scene is so good. It really helps the baby cgi

[@pallenda]

It's one of those movies that you have to see if you are into movies for more than just entertainment. It's really special.

[@citizenbobx]

This one disturbed me so much in the theatre that I never wanted to see it again, the last "presentation of the child scene" especially. Someone got me the DVD and I never cracked it open. I was like: "What are you thinking, getting me this?" And yes, Alfonso Cuaron should get any green light for any project he wants, ever.

[@kevinsieg2076]

the long shot where julianne moore was killed was achieved with the film crew on the top of the car and dropping the camera down through a hole in the roof and moving it around the actors, creating a claustrophobic effect and increasing the dramatic tension.

[@luishernandez-molina896]

I recommend you watch "The Wrestler." As a guy that rarely cries that movie gets me every time

[@rrmenton8016]

The Wrestler is an amazing movie. Being middle aged, I cried at the ending cuz what he was doing and why he was doing it hit me where I lived. That's an amazing film, and I would love it if Shanelle reacted to it.

[@wubranch1]

This film needs to be in everyone’s top 5.

[@tatlertom3090]

i saw this in theaters - i couldn't understand how it was so low key received. most of the audience sat in stunned silence at the end...

[@JohnJohn-pg7ze]

It’s crazy this movie was a flop and it’s SO GOOD!! Didn’t even make it’s budget back at the box office, and is considered one of the best films of the 21st century. It’s in the same conversation as There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men. Gritty, tough and AMAZING movies.

[@teacherlion]

This is a great film. Glad you chose to watch it. The scene where they come outside at the end and the baby is crying and everyone stops fighting is amazing. I wish that we valued every life as much as baby Dylan.

[@martinbraun1211]

Still waiting for your "GALAXY QUEST" reaction! 😥

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Two films I’d love for her to do are Apocalypse Now & Galaxy Quest.

[@martinbraun1211]

@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 She did GALAXY QUEST, but it's only on her patreon by now!

[@cybrman3317]

Children of Men is in my top ten favourite films of all time 😀

[@indiefjant]

Children of Men is a cinematic masterpiece. It was way ahead of its time, and that’s genuinely the only reason I can find to rationalize why it wasn’t recognized in the way it deserved at the time. This movie will be a common topic of study in university classes and film schools for a long time to come.

[@edmo922]

One of my all-time favorites and one of the best sci-fi movies ever. The camerawork in this movie is amazing.

[@chrismendez6870]

Children of men is one of the greatest movies ever made. It's a masterpiece of cinema, story telling and human nature.

[@AnnekeOosterink]

I always went to this cheap dvd store, that sold a mix of really badly done digital children's movies, okay-ish tv shows, unknown movies, and occasionally a few big movies. I bought the dvd of Children of Men there, about a year after it was released and had no idea about anything about the film, I only knew Clive Owen on the cover, and the text on the back seemed intriguing. So I bought it, for like 3 euros. I was blown away, I loved it so much. :) There is a short making of on youtube somewhere about several of the long take scenes, that's very interesting.

[@scottlouis]

I absolutely love this movie. Seriously a classic. The long shot is so well renowned. Amazing directing and cinematography. My fav scenes were the nurse’s remembering how it started and her line about “the playgrounds dying.” Heartbreaking. And the scene when the shooting stops as they all see the first baby in decades. So beautiful.

[@seijidaitai]

This film blew my mind and made me an Alfonso Cuaron fan for life. Every facet is so well done. You're right, it's in that top echelon alongside films like Saving Private Ryan. Another film I would put in the same class: Master & Commander. Also gotta say every time I comment, love your trivia section, I have the same after-movie ritual.

[@cbmx1x1]

Ditto on the Master and Commander. That movie is perfect in every way.

[@rakeshchandan007]

all the longs takes kept me on edge of my seat searching for cut

[@joeybossolo7]

One of my top 5 movies, ever. I’ve seen it easily a dozen times or more. A criminally underrated classic.

[@TheUlf]

God, it really is such a remarkably affecting Michael Cain performance... something about him refusing to cave and struggling to lift himself up to still try for the 'pull my finger' really kills me.

[@DaveF.]

Oh my - Michael Caine reduced to 'Austin Power's dad'. :-)

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Yeah, that hurt my soul. I wanted to facepalm, but was too stunned to move. I think I was as affected by that as Shanelle was by the long cut in the car, lol.

[@MFSMUG]

The boat at the end...the fact it was named Tomorrow...brilliant. Absolutely genius. The whole film is genius, but man...TOMORROW.

[@Mark_McC]

I think Children of Men is in the top ten of the best movies of the last 25 years. I think you can make a very strong argument that Children of Men IS the best movie of the last 25 years.

[@Timeisaflat_O]

In my opinion, this is one of the most realistic and probable dystopian movies ever filmed. This and “The Road” are pinnacle dystopian fiction.

[@cbmx1x1]

100% agree. This is surely how the end of this world will look & feel.

[@JohnnyPappas]

I loved this movie so much when I first watched it. I think they faked the continuous cut in the car but could be wrong. This movie is one of my favorites, thank you for reminding me of it. I need this on physical media.

[@frankbowman9493]

This makes me cry every time. I bought this when it came out on DVD. I love your reaction!

[@ScarlettM]

11:15 - there are a lot of cats around because in book (I think) women would try to substituted kittens for babies, just to care for something.

[@FunkhousersNephew]

THE movie that got me into cinematography

[@ChrisMcNeese]

My favorite movie. I love Emmanuel Lubezki's work as director of photography. I first saw this as a dvd rental, and was blown away.

[@sabalos]

They were saying that Cuarón's shout of 'cut!' was lost in the noise of an explosion, not that the blood was 'lost'. So the take with the blood on the lens continued instead of being cut and reset. The blood just disappears during a hidden cut a couple of minutes later. EDIT: (Oh and good choice of movie! Underseen, at least on youtube, and a masterpiece)

[@ermerm1521]

So Trunchbull from Matilda now takes care of children? J.K Rowling loves the way Alfonso Cuaron does his movies since she saw "A little princess" ... so she offered him "Harry Potter and the prisioner of Azkaban"

[@apmaxson83]

For your trivia section: If you're surprised about a movie losing an Oscar you should look up what it lost to. In this case, best adapted screenplay and best editing went to The Departed and best cinematography went to Pan's Labyrinth.

[@brownstarslots]

Wow. What a year

[@terryhughes7349]

Underrated film. Great reaction! They had interesting software that could merge multiple shots into a 'single' shot.

[@TheJamieRamone]

6:26 - No, I hear you. From the little I could glimpse it did feel like a real, spontaneous conversation.

[@rescuetweak]

It’s really a great underrated movie. I bought it on DVD a long time ago. By far the main thing I thought about watching this was that we live in a country that has brutally killed over 65 million little boys and girls by the nightmare of abortion. I believe one day there will be a museum, another Holocaust Museum in people won’t be able to believe that there was a time when people actually killed their own healthy babies before they even had a chance to see the world or cuddle. One of the women that I actually work with and saving babies at the abortion mills and fighting human trafficking as well, Was a little girl in the holocaust World War II era.

[@partypartida]

I reacted the same way you did when I saw this in the theatre.

[@joshgrobansdrymouth]

Omg I’m so happy you watched this

[@davidjericho4815]

It's been in my personal Top 5 Greatest since 2006. Beautiful story, beautifully shot.

[@sydneymeanstreet]

Hope you stayed for Jarvis Cocker's "Running the World" over the end credits.

[@stvbrsn]

Who’s still running the world? lol

[@cwdkidman2266]

Oh, and extra points for Michael Caine, an actor who can make you cry just reading the phone book. See: Alfie. The original.

[@joshuayeager3686]

This movie is just genius. Nothing more to say.

[@arraymac227]

The long take, my biggest memory of this movie. _The Player_ goes down!

[@scrounge4cash584]

It wasn't the blood that got lost from the lens. It was the director's command to "cut" which got lost, because it was drowned out by the explosion.

[@ChardeeMacDennis96]

They shoot his feet like that in the beginning because for most of the movie, Theo has no shoes, just subtly setting it up! Brilliant !

[@chairmanofthebored6860]

What an amazing, underrated film. I always recommend this to friends and they always say "huh?".

[@bobbabai]

I can think of few if any other movies which kept effectively piling on moments of shock and despair, one after the other - relentless. Someone else (George on CineBinge React) said: "This movie keeps stripping away good things". A very good description of how the movie is structured.

[@doubleog6149]

Jasper gave his wife the "legal" suicide kit called Quietis, before meeting the goons that killed him.

[@danholmesfilm]

Girl, MY mind is still on the car and I saw this in theaters :O

[@thamoose2179]

... my favorite shot in the movie is one Cuaron used before in "Prisoner of Azkaban". The main character is in focus in the foreground, while a character in the background out of focus does expository of a dead loved one. Clive Owen is eavesdropping on Jasper describing what happened to Theo and Julian's son Dillon. The same shot was used as Harry Potter is talking to Professor Lupin. We stay on Harry in the foreground in focus as Lupin reminisces about Lilly Potter. (Chef's Kiss)

[@thecoogs]

District 9 always comes to mind as a comp in style. No dialogue needed for much of the ride. Clive really shined

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

That’s actually a pretty good comparison. It’s not a film that would’ve immediately come to my mind, but it’s a great pick.

[@FrederickLopez]

A wonderful film directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Children of Men is an underrated dystopian sci-fi story. Great reaction!

[@Neyenn]

If i remember right i have read about how that iconic scene in the car was actually part a mistake, they had a few chances to do it and the one on the movie was their last chance, actually the blood spilling on the lens was a mistake and Cuarón yelled to cut there, but because the explosion nobody heard him and they kept filming. So that incredible scene was partially a mistake

[@filmfreak7682]

Oh youre not even READY for Alfonso Cuaron’s best work

[@rustyshackleford3862]

I would argue that what we see on screen is the apocalypse.

[@mattp6089]

I rave about this movie regularly, it is a lesser-known gem.

[@aagold76]

Pan's Labyrinth won Cinematography, The Departed won Editing and Adapted Screenplay.

[@JoePlett]

I saw this in the theater and had to own the DVD (HD-DVD because I'm a loser-dork). I never needed to watch it again because the film is SEARED into my brain. A (literally) unforgettable classic. It was so great sharing your first watch. Thanks for choosing this.

[@Milleniumlance]

23:30 I loved this scene, seeing this baby in all the chaos it's like seeing the second coming of baby Jesus

[@davewolf6256]

So I invented something called the _Children of Men_ Drinking Game. The rule is, drink whenever: 1. Someone says the Human Project isn’t real, or questions whether it’s real; 2. Jasper says “pull my finger;” 3. Animals are friendly to Theo; 4. The red-headed Fisher attempts to kill Theo; 5. Every _Guernica_ reference.

[@wesbeuning1733]

Yes! Thought I was the only one who heard of this interesting film

[@jalcalahr]

This movie is very under-rated. One if my favorite movies of all time

[@rockof.1793]

I guess most babies are delivered in one take :-) So happy that you watched this. I saw it in the cinema and left it awestruck. I didn't have your eyes for film-making so it took me rewatches to appreciate the craft. Because of how rich the props and backgrounds are (love Theo's washed out Olympics 2012 shirt), Children of Men delivers on these rewatches, it is now one of my favorite movies. It's not just well-made but important in how it captures so much about what's going on in our society.

[@archstanton664]

Honestly, what got me was Marika (spelling?) who was an unsung MVP. She put met them for a few minutes and decided that her life was expendable enough to fight an authority figure line Sid. Then she puts their safety before hers and pushes the boat without her in it. That just highlighted how important human life is in this world as well as the scene where there was a cease-fire.

[@karlbecker8775]

Michael Caine is the name you're looking for.

[@lawrencegough]

I first watched this at a cinema, on a date, surprisingly it wasn't a disaster. The baby coming down the stairwell scene is one of the most incredible I have seen. One of my top top films. The sense of dread and tension is unsurpassed. And accurate, as virtually everyone dies.

[@Justin_Leone]

Literally interrupted by an explosion while trying to say "blown out".

[@AtomixIGN]

I watched this in theaters and left totally shook. I bought it when it came out on DVD and one night I snuck a little weed outside came in and put it in the old PS2 for the love of my life. My significant other. A woman long since passed. I was wrecked. It destroyed me. It was the first time I ugly cried in front of her. And she was the only woman I've ever known who loved me more after seeing me that way.

[@DinerLingo]

I'm pretty sure the splatters on the lens didn't go away because of a hidden cut, but they were digitally removed one at a time until they were gone at a pace that wouldn't necessarily be noticed because the viewer would be focused on the action instead of the spots.

[@marcygitan9894]

I saw this movie the day it came out. An amazing film. I love long takes with director's who know what to do with them. Alfonso knows what's up with them.

[@TheJamieRamone]

11:45 - It's quite a clever move, I agree.

[@theendistheend123]

Before I even watch this reaction im gonna say YOU ARE AWESOME, for watching this movies. One of the greatest of all time.

[@cbmx1x1]

One of the most believable apocalyptic scenarios ever put to film. This is exactly the way things will break down, from a geopolitical standpoint. Disease, poverty, nationalism, and war spiraling out of control. That insane sounding piece of music with all the shrieking string instruments is called “Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima” by Penderecki. Another overlooked Cuarón film is A Little Princess, from 1995. Completely different in tone and subject, it’s a gorgeous family friendly film.

[@TheJamieRamone]

23:50 - Or drain, not all places use a combined system. ESPECIALLY if you can see daylight at the end of that tunnel 😉

[@TheJamieRamone]

9:09 - I get stressed driving, period. I can handle a tractor, tho...

[@PlasticMacele]

One of my favorite movies of all time. You really need to watch it several times to catch everything, but it's so depressing and draining that it's like an exercise in self-flagellation. Example, during the birth scene you can hear a swelling background of dogs barking like hounds at the gates and reaches it's crescendo at the moment of birth and giving way to angelic opera once the baby comes into the world. Some personal trivia, I was stoned as hell the first time I watched this movie.

[@sarataylor6164]

I am so satisfied with the recommendations this channel accepts. I keep watching for the vibe and for the movie-lover assessments, and I haven't been disappointed once. Thanks! ❤️

[@whawaii]

@Shanelle - Considering your fascination for long takes I'm EXTREMELY SURPRISED you haven't seen the 2019 film titled "1917". The whole movie is 2 continuous scenes. They spent months & months in pre-production & rehearsals working out all the choreography to fit the dialog. Then they built the environments to match. After you've reacted to it, then watch the BTS on how they pulled it off. It'll blow your mind.

[@marcoadan1]

Wow! You're right! Theo is always eavesdropping or right on the edge of things! Well, I guess that's the 'reluctant hero' in western literature. Which he clearly is. Very cool insight!👍🏽

[@johnathanstruble1064]

Shanelle's back! WOOT WOOT!..GOOD TO SEE YA GIRL.., MAYBE MY AGING Algorithm...BUT HAVENT SEEN SOME RECENT POSTS...made my day!

[@jasonbeatty831]

The first consequential movie of the 21st century. Still the best too.